About Us

Our Story.

We’re Lisa & Dustin DeMeritt, co-founders of DinkyBalls and former owners of Pickles Indoor Pickleball Club. But more than anything, we’re just two people who fell in love, with the game, the community, and the people who made it feel like home.

When we opened Pickles in 2021, it wasn’t part of a grand plan. It was a simple idea: create a space where anyone, any age, any ability, any background, could show up and feel like they belonged. What happened next was more than we ever imagined. Players came for the game but stayed for each other.

Over time, standing behind the counter, watching matches, chatting between games, we saw something extraordinary. Pickleball wasn’t just play, it was personality. Every serve, every lob, every laugh revealed something unique about the person holding the paddle.

That realization planted the seed for DinkyBalls. Not a business plan, but a spark born from the court itself. Inspired by the quirks, spirit, and confidence of the players we met every day, we began to imagine a collection of characters that could capture those personalities and celebrate them in a fun, playful way.

For us, DinkyBalls isn’t just a project; it’s a reflection of the community that brought us here. A way to honor the players who made pickleball feel like more than a sport. A way to carry the magic forward.

If we’ve learned anything, it’s this: Be you. The world will adjust.

From Court to character.

The Stories, Behind the Story.

Pickleball has never just been about the game. It’s about the people. The stories. The way this sport changes lives, bringing joy, building community, and creating second chances.

DinkyBalls was born, not from a concept, but from the court itself. From real people. From you. The characters: Paddy the Ambassador, Lobber the Airborne Ace, Banger the Whamm’er Slamm’er, or even Legend the Nostalgic Noble, are playful, but the stories behind them are real. From Court to Character is how we capture those stories: sitting courtside, listening to you share how the effect of pickleball has impacted your life.

Each DinkyBall reflects those lived experiences, stitched together from the voices and quirks of players everywhere. The magic of pickleball isn’t only in the game itself. It’s in the chance to simply be yourself.

We can’t wait to hear your story. See you on the courts.

Be you. The world will adjust.

The Stories: Scroll. Click. Watch.

The Pickleball Effect Book

Be among the first to get your copy of The Pickleball Effect.

It’s an honor to be featured in The Pickleball Effect by Scott Manthorne. More than recognition, it feels like a celebration of the game that has given us joy, purpose, and community. We’re proud to stand among the “pickleball famous”: athletes, celebrities, influencers, owners, and everyday players, whose stories come together in this book to show how the game has touched and changed lives.

From November 1st to April 1st, a portion of every book sold will support five incredible organizations making a positive impact on the game: Adaptive Pickleball, Chicken N Pickle Foundation, National Women’s Pickleball Foundation, Pickleball Cares, and Pickleball Farm.

Our hope is simple: to share the power of pickleball through stories that inspire, while giving back to those who grow the game.